Ranunculus asiaticus plant named ‘ABALCHERA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ranunculus  cultivar plant named ‘ABALCHERA’ is disclosed, characterized by the production of large flowers that are uniquely colored creamy peach. Flower stems are exceptionally long. The new variety is a  Ranunculus , normally produced as a cut flower and also potentially useful as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ranunculus asiaticus.

Variety denomination: ‘ABALCHERA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Ranunculus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Alberto Biancheri in Camporosso Mare, Italy.The cross resulting in this new variety was made during 2008.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to asRanunculus ‘A5-01’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietaryvariety referred to as Ranunculus ‘68CMT03’. The new variety wasdiscovered in 2013 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resultingfrom the 2008 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare,Italy.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed byvegetative division of buds sprouting from the rhizome of the selectedplant. Subsequent propagation has been performed by tissue culture.First propagation took place at a research greenhouse in CamporossoMare, Italy in 2010 and has shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ABALCHERA’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ABALCHERA’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘ABALCHERA’ as a new and distinct Ranunculuscultivar:

-   1. Unique creamy peach flower color.-   2. Exceptionally large flower.-   3. Exceptionally long flower stem.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABALCHERA’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of thenew cultivar ‘ABALCHERA’ differ in the following;

-   1. Flower color. Flowers of the new variety are a mixture of    Yellow-Orange 18D, and Red 37D. Flower color of the seed parent is    vivid orange, near RHS 28B.-   2. The new variety produces a larger flower, with an average    diameter range of 10 to 12 cm, the seed parent has an average    diameter range of 8 to 10 cm.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABALCHERA’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘ABALCHERA’ differ in the following;

-   1. Flower color. Flowers of the new variety are a mixture of    Yellow-Orange 18D, and Red 37D. Flower color of the pollen parent is    light purple-pink, near RHS 62C.-   2. The new variety produces a larger flower, with an average    diameter range of 10 to 12 cm, the pollen parent has a flower with    an average diameter range of 8 to 10 cm.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABALCHERA’ are comparable to the unpatentedcommercial variety Ranunculus ‘ABGNOWEE’. The two Ranunculus varietiesare similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the newvariety ‘ABALCHERA’ differs in the following:

-   1. Flower color of the new variety has shades of peach not found in    this comparator.-   2. Flower size of the new variety is larger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full colorflowering plants of the new variety at approximately five months old,grown in a greenhouse.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of plant parts.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 6^(th) edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe ‘ABALCHERA’ plants grown in agreenhouse Camporosso Mare, Italy. The plant described has beencultivated under glass, planted in the months of September and describedin the month of February. One must always refer to these conditions ofseason and culture, when considering the present description. By reasonof different climate or culture conditions, differences may arisebetween certain characteristics of the plant and the correspondingcharacteristics of the description. It should be considered as normaland do not modify the essence of the present invention because it willpossible to identify the plant by means of the totality of thecharacteristics given in the description. The rhizome has been plantedon raised benches in a peat and pumice substrate mixture. The growingtemperature ranged from 12° C. to 25° C. during the day and from 2° C.to 8° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normalsunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ranunculus asiaticus ‘ABALCHERA’.-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to rooting.—15 days at approximately 10-12° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet.—20 days.        -   Root description.—Secondary roots grow from the rhizome and            are fasciculate type.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial, robust plant, semi-erect            vegetation.        -   Height to top flower.—55 to 60 cm.        -   Plant spread.—50 to 70 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Medium.        -   Branching characteristics.—Simple or branched. Main floral            stems grow from a basal rosette, with 1 or 2 lateral            branches, each one of which has a flower.        -   Length of lateral branches.—30 to 40 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—0.6 to 0.8 cm.        -   Texture of lateral branches.—Glossy, slightly tomentose.        -   Internode length.—Internodes are extremely close together,            forming a basal rosette.        -   Strength of lateral branches.—Medium.        -   Color of lateral branches.—Yellow Green (RHS 144A).        -   Angle of branches.—20° to 25° C.        -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—Usually 2.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—The leaves, usually numerous, have a marked            heterophyllia, in relation to the degree of their            development and their position on the plant (base of the            plant; floral stem).        -   Leaf at the base of the plant.—Arrangement: Trifoliate            (young leaf, YL); Biternate (mature leaf, ML). Average            Length: 25 to 45 cm. Average Width: 15 to 25 cm. Overall            Shape of blade: Obovate (young leaf); Palmatipartite (mature            leaf). Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of            dissection: Young leaves are generally not lobed; mature            leaves are generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which            is further divided in 3 or more lobes. Apex: Rounded (young            leaf); Acute (mature leaf). Base: Rounded. Attachment: Base            of the plant. Margin: Dentate. Texture of top surface:            Slightly tomentose. Texture of bottom surface: Slightly            tomentose. Appearance of top surface: Glossy. Appearance            bottom surface: Glossy. Leaf internode length: The            internodes are extremely close together, forming a basal            rosette. Color: Young foliage upper side: Green (RHS N137A).            Young foliage under side: Green (RHS 137C). Mature foliage            upper side: Green (RHS N137A). Mature foliage under side:            Green (RHS 137C). Venation: Type: Dichotomous; plunging in            to the limb at the upper surface; raised on the limb at the            lower surface. Venation color upper side: Yellow Green (RHS            144A). Venation color under side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).            Petiole: Petiole: Long, tubular, rigid. Length: 15 to 25 cm.            Diameter: 0.4 to 0.8 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose.            Color: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).        -   Leaf inserted at the nodes of the floral stems            (sl).—Arrangement: Biternate. Average Length: 12.0 to            22.0 cm. Average Width: 14.0 to 18.0 cm. Overall Shape of            blade: Palmatipartite. Dissected leaves, describe lobes,            quantity of dissection: Generally divided in 3 parts, each            one of which is further divided in many deeply incised            lobes. Apex: Acute. Base: Acute. Attachment: Petiolate.            Margin: Serrate. Texture of top surface: Slightly tomentose.            Texture of bottom surface: Slightly tomentose. Appearance of            top surface: Matte. Appearance bottom surface: Glossy. Leaf            internode length: 5 to 10 cm. Color: foliage upper side:            Green (RHS N137A). foliage under side: Yellow Green (RHS            137C). Venation: Type: Dichotomous, plunging in to the limb            at the upper surface and raised on the limb at the lower            surface. Venation color upper side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).            Venation color under side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A). Petiole:            Petiole: Long, slightly flat, rigid. Length: 4 to 8 cm.            Diameter: 0.5 to 0.8 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose.            Color: Yellow Green (RHS 144A); Purple (RHS N79B) near the            attachment.-   Flower:    -   -   Bloom period.—Winter to Spring.        -   Vase life (cut flower).—10-15 days.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-Cleaning.        -   Bud.—Closed bud (CB): Shape: Flattened globular with a sharp            point. Length: 1.4 to 1.6 cm. Diameter: 1.2 to 1.8 cm.            Color: Green (RHS 137B) at the center; Yellow Green (RHS            145B) where the sepals start to overlap; Purple (RHS N79B)            along the venation and near the base. Slightly open bud            (OB): Shape: Flattened globular. Length: 1.7 to 2.2 cm.            Diameter: 2.3 to 3.0 cm. Color: fades from Yellow Green (RHS            145C) to Yellow Orange (RHS 18C) from the base to the apex.        -   Flower size (of).—Diameter: 10 to 12 cm. Height: 3 to 6 cm.        -   Corolla (of).—Round, regular, in the form of a flat section.            Petals: Arrangement: Arrangement: Imbricated, disposed on            the receptacle in very tight verticils. The size of the            petals is quite variable, according to the position in the            corolla, decreasing from the exterior toward the center. The            average size of fully developed petal is as follows: Lobe            Length: 4.0 to 6.5 cm. Lobe Width: 5.0 to 5.5 cm. Quantity:            Double flower, petals are very numerous (>100). Texture:            Silky, thin, resistant. Lobe Apex: Rounded. Lobe shape:            Obovate. Margin: Entire or finely Crenate. Aspect: Concave            with moderately reflexed apex when flower is fully opened.            Color when opening (CF): Upper surface: Yellow Orange (RHS            18B) fading to Red (RHS 38B) from the base towards the apex.            Lower surface: Yellow (RHS 18B) fading to Red (RHS 38B) from            the base towards the apex. Color Fully opened (OF): Upper            surface (PU): Yellow Orange (RHS 18D) and Red (RHS 37D)            pretty evenly mixed together. Lower surface (PL): Yellow            Orange (RHS 18D) and Red (RHS 37D) pretty evenly mixed            together.        -   Calyx to sepals (s).—Quantity per flower: 5 to 10. Shape:            Concave, incurved at the apex. Length: 2.5 to 3.0 cm. Width:            1.0 to 1.5 cm. Apex: Acute, claw-like. Base: Flat. Margin:            Entire. Texture: Lower surface is tomentose; Upper surface            is glabrous. Color Upper Surface: Yellow Green (RHS 138B);            Light Yellow Green (RHS 145B) near the base. Color Lower            Surface: Greyish Green (N137A) at the apex; Green (RHS            137B); Purple (RHS N79B) along the venations and near the            base.        -   Peduncle.—None.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 30 to 35 cm. Diameter: 1.1 to 1.3 cm.            Color: Yellowish Green (RHS 144A). Orientation: Upright,            straight, rigid. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamens: Almost completely transformed as            petals.        -   Gynoecium.—The pistils are numerous, short, locked together            at the center of the corolla in a Purple (RHS N79B),            dome-shaped apocarpous gynoecium.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Seeds and fruit production not observed.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Ranunculus            has been observed.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Upper and lower temperature tolerance            not observed, plants have been grown in a climate controlled            greenhouse. Ranunculus asiaticus typically tolerates            temperatures within USDA Zones 7 to 11.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plantnamed ‘ABALCHERA’ as herein illustrated and described.